Sir,

In recent weeks there have been several articles and letters regarding the above and I feel it only fair to allow the point of view of the 'other side' to be aired.

Firstly, I would like to correct a fundamental inaccuracy which was printed in last week's article entitled 'Skateboarders still causing concern'.

There is no purpose built skateboarding park in Saundersfoot provided by the community or anyone else. The facility consists of a small wooden mini-ramp, which will accommodate around 10 skaters at a time. To my knowledge the extent of the community council's involvement was to agree to lease a tiny piece of land to Saundersfoot Sk8 Club next to the Regency Playground.

The size and position of the piece of land was woefully inadequate, but the Sk8 Club had no choice, but to accept the offer as it was the only one.

The skateboarders then raised the money themselves to buy the materials and have the mini-ramp built.

This is a sport that is growing rapidly, not just locally, but worldwide and many communities have worked with their local skaters to try and provide adequate facilities.

Alas Tenby and Saundersfoot have once again let the youth of their communities down.

I have two young sons who are both keen skaters and I recently spent a Saturday afternoon down at the mini-ramp watching them and many others skate for hours on end.

Anyone who takes the time to get to know these children will realise that they are totally committed to their sport and that there is a real group ethos amongst them.

The younger skaters in the group are always looked after by the older members, are never laughed at or ridiculed when they fall off, but instead are applauded and encouraged for trying to improve their skills.

It appears that there may be one or two teenagers who don't have the sense to realise that holding on to a vehicle whilst on their skateboards is dangerous to both themselves and others, but the police need to deal with these children individually, instead of doing the obvious thing and tarring all skaters with the same brush.

Wherever skaters go in the village of Saundersfoot they are told off and moved on.

We have now been informed that the parents of children caught with skateboards on the Harbour will be fined.

Instead of vilifying these children why don't the various authorities try communicating with them and look for a solution to the problem.

We as parents want them to have somewhere safe to skate where they can have fun and improve not only their skating skills, but also their social skills without getting in anyone's way.

Perhaps a few members of the community council could take a trip to Milford Haven or Carmarthen to have a look at the excellent facilities that have been provided for children in those areas, and by children I don't just mean skaters.

These towns have purpose-built parks where each area, be it a toddler playpark, a basketball court or skate-ramp area, is sectioned off to provide safe play areas for each age group.

I appreciate that there are two or three councillors who are keen to try and improve facilities for the children of the community, but they are in the minority.

It is a shame that none of the councillors were around on the Saturday afternoon that I spent at the park.

I was there for around three hours and counted 37 boarders, not just using the mini-ramp, but using their initiative and building their own little ramps with anything they could find lying around. In the same time span, I counted just two people playing tennis.

I am not suggesting for one minute that we should get rid of the tennis courts, I enjoy the occasional game myself, but perhaps we could use just one of them to accommodate some of the very talented youngsters that we have in our village and surrounding area or isn't there any money left over after the extortionate amount that was spent on the tragedy that is the Sensory Garden?

Julie Watkins,

Cherry Tree Cottage,

Off Ragged Staff,

Saundersfoot